Cuba's Economy Collapses, Prices Soar • FRANCE 24 English
Why It Matters
Cuba’s deepening economic collapse threatens a humanitarian crisis, forcing policymakers to confront the impact of sanctions and the urgent need for relief.
Key Takeaways
- •Ration books now cover only two subsidized items per month.
- •Cubans rely on remittances; 60% depend on foreign money.
- •State stores empty; basic goods and toiletries scarce nationwide.
- •Energy blockade causes blackouts, worsening food shortages and poverty.
- •UN warns Cuba's economic collapse threatens humanitarian crisis.
Summary
France 24 reports that Cuba’s decades‑old ration system is collapsing as soaring prices and chronic shortages leave citizens with only one meal a day.
State‑run stores, once stocked with subsidized staples, now display empty shelves. 60% of the population depend on remittances, with many receiving as little as $200 a month to supplement meager wages. The U.S. energy embargo has intensified blackouts, further crippling food distribution.
Anna and Amarado say they can buy just split chickpeas and sugar each month, while Lazaro Cuesta admits his family would have “hung ourselves” without his wife’s overseas support. Such personal testimonies underscore the depth of the crisis.
The United Nations warns Cuba is running out of time, signaling a looming humanitarian emergency that could pressure both the island’s government and international actors to reassess sanctions and aid strategies.
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